Colombian pop star Shakira and her Spanish soccer player Gerard Piqué announced on Saturday that they are separating after being together for almost 12 years. 

“We regret to confirm that we are separating. For the well-being of our children, who are our highest priority, we ask that you respect our privacy. Thank you for your understanding,” they said in a join statement. 

The announcement comes days after reports stated that the 35-year-old footballer had left the family’s home in Barcelona and was living alone in the city.

Also Read: Shakira, Gerard Piqué split: A look at their complete relationship timeline

Following the former couple’s announcement, one of the questions that people are asking is why the two never got married despite being in a relationship for over a decade. This question has been answered by both of them several times. 

During a recent interview with ex-footballer and former Manchester United teammate Gary Neville, Piqué said, “I like how we are now, how we function as a couple and we don’t feel the need to be married.”

Shakira, on the other hand, spoke about it years ago in an interview for the Planet Weird podcast. She confessed that she is terrified of the idea of marriage. 

“The idea of marriage scares me. I don’t want him to stop seeing me as his girl. It’s like that forbidden fruit, I prefer to keep him attentive and let him think that everything is possible depending on his behavior,” she said during the interview. 

Also read: ‘I will do what they want’: Sadio Mane breaks silence on Liverpool future

The 45-year-old singer met the Barcelona defender while she was promoting “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” which was the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The couple has two children, Sasha and Milan.